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Below Average Cognitive Ability-An under Researched Risk Factor for Emotional-Behavioural Difficulties in Childhood

Andrea K Bowe1, Anthony Staines2, Deirdre M Murray1,3

  • 1INFANT Research Centre, Department of Paediatrics, University College Cork, T12 K8AF Cork, Ireland.

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
|December 24, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Children with below average cognitive ability face a higher risk of emotional-behavioral difficulties (EBDs). Early identification and intervention are crucial for supporting cognitive and adaptive outcomes in these children.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Child Psychiatry
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Children with below-average cognitive ability often face increasing challenges with age.
  • This population remains under-researched despite potential difficulties in cognitive and social development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the longitudinal relationship between early cognitive ability and emotional-behavioral difficulties (EBDs) in children.
  • To identify the risk of EBDs in children with below-average cognitive ability from age three to nine.

Main Methods:

  • Observational study using data from the 'Growing Up in Ireland' cohort.
  • Cognitive ability assessed at age three; EBDs measured at ages three, five, and nine using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ).
  • Statistical analyses included generalized linear mixed models and logistic regression.

Main Results:

  • Below-average cognitive ability was a significant independent predictor of higher longitudinal SDQ scores.
  • Children with below-average cognitive ability were 1.39 times more likely to experience clinically significant EBDs between ages three and nine.
  • A significant association was found between lower cognitive ability and increased emotional-behavioral difficulties.

Conclusions:

  • Children with below-average cognitive ability are at an increased risk for developing emotional-behavioral difficulties.
  • Early identification of at-risk children is a public health priority to enable timely interventions.
  • Interventions should aim to improve both cognitive and adaptive outcomes for these children.

Keywords:
cognitive abilityearly interventionemotional-behavioral function

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